Pear-peeling machine



June 24, 1930. F K N 1,766,433

PEAR FEELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 44 3flTT'CfR/VE/ June 24, 1930. w. A. FONKEN 1,766,433

PEAR PEELI NG MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1927 4 SheetsSheet 2 /NA/EN 727/3June 24, 1930. w. FQNKEN 1,766,433

PEAR FEELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 TT'URNEJune 24, 1930. w, FONKEN 1,766,433

PEAR FEELING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1927 4 sheets sheet v 4 57' 'F' *7'i Z AL {1 o TTbR/V Patented .lune 24, 1939 stares Aim rel cs"rnaa-rnnune museums Application filed September 12, 1927. Serial No.219,068.,

This invention relates generally to the canners art and particularly tothe preparation of pears tor canning.

The main object of this invention is to provide a machine which willmaterially reduce the cost of removing the skin from pears and similarfruit by reducing the amount of labor and time consumed in theoperation. as well as greatly reducing the amount of waste usuallyaccompanying such operations.

The second object is to reduce the amount of oxidation and softening ofthe fruit usually caused by long exposure to the atmosphere byshortening the time of such operation.

The third ohicct is to improve the quality of the output by making theindividual pieces absolutely uniform as to shape and leaving the cornerswhere the pears are halved sharp and well delined instead of rounded. asis the case where oxidation must be contended with.

The fourth object is to encourage the canning of pears by bringing thecanningcost nearer to that of other canned fruits of a similar nature.

These. and other obic't will become more apparent from the spec. icatioufollowingas illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 an end elevation oi 'themachine. Figure 2 is a vertical sectionthrough the machine taken along the line Q-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is avertical section taken along the line 3 3 in Figure 2. Figure i is aplan view taken in partial section along the line' l4 in Figure 2,Figure 5 is a perspective view of the suction cup carrier. Fig-- ure 6is a perspective view of the bearing for the suction cup carrier; Figure7 is a diagram of the suction piping and associated parts. Figure 8 is aperspective View of the control valve. Figure 9 is a, perspective viewof the hearing or seat for the control valve. Figure 10 is a horizontalsection taken along the line 10-10 in Figure 1. Figurell is an enlargedview of the pear centering mechanism shown in plan. Figure 12 is asectional view through the pear suction cup and knife.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the machine includes a pair of legs15 across which is secured a base 16 on whose ends are mounted the endframes 17 which support the table 18. The machine is preferably mountedover a suitable conveyor 19 on which the peeled pears are carried away.

At each side of the base 16 is inounteda suction cup carrier bearing 20which is made fastto tl e base 16 by the bolts 21. The fact 22 of eachbearing 20 is provided with an annular groove 23 having a radialconnecting passageway 24 joiningsame witha short inner groove 25. Anopening 26 from the passageway 24: extends through the bearing 20 and isconnected with a suction pipe 27 which branches from the main suctionpipe 28 which extends to both ends of the machine.

It may here be stated that the machine is in duplicate-that isthe sameoperation is. performed slits opposite endsv and the necessaryparts arethereforein duplicate although they are described only once.

In the bearing .20 is also an opening 29 which is joined by the pipe 30to parts which will be'described later. In. the bearing 20 journals theshaft 31 on' which is splined-the suction cup carriers Each suc'tion cupcarrier is cylindrical in fornr and is provided'with radial holes 33111which. are mounted the suction cups 34: having a flat pear-shapedperforated face '35 against which the pears arehcld. Each radial hole 33has a connecting passageway 36 which terminates in an arcuate slot 37which can register with the openings 29 in the bearing 20. An opening 38is formed in the table 18 for the suction cups 34;.

Between the suction cup carrier bearings and'mounted on the base 16 arethe standards 39 and &0 across the top of which is mounted the driveshaft 41 on which is secured a hand wheel 42, a belt pulley 13 andapinion 4-1. In the standard is keyeda valve bearing 45 having an opening46 which connects with the pipe 30. An annular groove 47 is formed in.the face l8 of the bearing 45 and has an inwardly pointing branch 49which terminates in a hole 50 extending through the hearing 45 andconnecting with the pipe 51, which branches from the main suction pipe28.

Against the face 48 of the bearing 45 bears the control valve 52 havinga semi-circular groove 52 formed in its lateral face which can registerwith the holes 46 and 50. The valve 52 is keyed on the shaft 53 whichjournals in the bearing 45 and the standard 39.

Each projecting end of the shaft 53 has mounted thereon a curved knife54 shaped like the half of a pear and coaxial with the majo axis of thepear-shaped suction cup 34. On the shaft 53 is also mounted the lock 55of a Geneva stop member whose driven element 56 is keyed on the shaft31. The roller 57 of the Geneva stop is mounted on the gear 58, which iskeyed on the shaft 53.

In order to peel the pear 59 it is first necessary to properly placesame on the suction face 35 and in an approximately correct positon toavoid undue waste and also to secure perfect peeling. To accomplish thisobject an auxiliary shaft (30 is provided on which is mounted a curvedlever 61 which is actuated by the roller 57. A stop screw 62 is providedfor the lever 61, which lever is urged toward its stop by the spring 63.On the shaft is also secured a lever 64 having a spring 65 connecting itto the end of the bell crank lever 66 on whose end 67 is mounted a pairof fingers 68 which are geared together and provided with a spring 69which urge the finger tips toward a partially closed position, but onlywith sufiicient power to enable same to be spread apart when'the smallend of a pear is inserted between same.

On the opposite side of the suction cup 3%, and slidably mounted in thetable 18, is a pear pusher plate 70 which is operated by a bell cranklever 71 which, in turn, is actuated by the link 72 on the lever 73which is mounted on the shaft 60.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A pear 59 is placed, on theface 35 and the lingers 68 are moved down in front of the small end ofthe pear while the pear pusher plate 70 is approaching the large end ofthe pear in a horizontal plane with the downward movement of the fingers68 a little in advance of the horizontal movement of the plate 70. \Vhenthe fingers 68 rest against the table 18 their further movement isprevented thereby, and any further movement of their operating lever 64merely results in the stretching of the spring 65, during which time theplate 70 is pushing the small end of the pear 59 between the fingers 68thereby centering same above the pear-shaped suction surface 35.

The uninformed person might be of the opinion that this would result ina wastage of fruit due to the different sizes of pears which naturallywould be encountered '1 bi objection is overcome, as is now overcome inhand peeling, by first grading the fruit according to size and adjustingthe knives or substituting different knives to correspoi'nl with theparticular grade of pear being peeled.

Having been properly positioned upon the suction face 35 and the turretor suction cup arrier 32 being held stationary by the Geneva stopmechanism it now follows that air having been exhausted from the opening26 and the groove 23 that the members 20 and 32 will be held to a seatand that air will be exhausted from the suction cup 34 causing the pearto be firmly held in its centered position As the turret 32 now revolvesthe cup carrying the pear is carried in front of the knife 54, whosecontinuous rotation is timed to cause the knife 54- to move around thehalf pear and completely remove its skin.

It will be noted that while this operation is taking place that the halfpear is also held against its seat on the face 35 by means of a suction,but that this suction is intermittent rather than continuous, as is thecase in the first portion of the operation. This intermittentapplication of suction to the cup 34 is secured by the action of thevalve 52 against the bearing l8, which members are also held to a seatby the annular groove 47 to which suction is continually applied, but,owing to the relation between the holes 46 and 50 in the member to thegroove 52 it can be seen that when the groove 52 registers with both ofthe openings 46 and 50 that a suction will be applied to the cup 3%during that space of time only which corresponds with the time of thepeeling operation. At this point the holes 46 and 50 are out of registerwith the groove 52 and the turret 32 again moves and the pear is droppedupon the conveyor 19.

This operation can be better understood from Figure 7 wherein acontinuous suction is provided from the pipe 28 and the branches 27 and30, to the annular grooves 23 and 47.

It will be understood that this continuous suction is used for a doublepurpose, namely the holding of the particular parts to their seats and,in the case of the pear centering position, to hold the pear in positionafter being centered until this task is taken up by the intermittentsuction imposed by the registering of the groove 52 with both the holes46 and 50 at the same time.

Attention is drawn to my co-pending application, Serial Number 162,278in which the action of the suction cup is more fully described.

I claim:

1. A half-pear peeling machine having, in combination, a pear holder; acurved knife for removing the skin from a half-pear held on said holder;means movable with respect to the holder for positioning a half-pear onsaid holder; and means for rotating said knife in a manner to hold onsaid holder.

2. A pear peeling machine having, in combination, a suction plate forholding the flat side of a half pear and having the shape of the flatface of an axially split pear; a rotatable knife mounted coaxial withthe major axis of said pear holder; means for centering a half-pear onsaid holder; and suction applying means whereby a half-pear can be heldagainst said plate While said knife is moving around said pear for thepur pose of peeling same.

3. A pear peeling machine having, in combination, a rotatable turrethaving a plurality of flat suction plates mounted on the peripherythereof; means for rotating said turret intermittently; positioningmeans adjacent to one of said suction plates; a paring knife alongsideof the next adjacent suction plate; means for applying suction to a cupafter a cut section of a pear has been positioned thereon While its skinis being removed therefrom by said knife; and means for releasing thesuction from the cup holding the pear after the completion of thepeeling operation.

4. A pear peeling machine consisting of a pair of bearings; a shaftjournaling in said bearings; a pair of turrets on said shaft seatedagainst the inner sides of said bearings; a plurality of suction cupsmounted on each turret having flat perforated pearshaped faces; meansfor centering a halfpear 011 one of said plates; a second shaft havingan axis concentric with the major axis of a suction cup next adjacent tosaid positioning plate; a knife mounted on the end of said shaft adaptedto remove the skin of a halfpear during the revolution of said secondshaft; an intermittent drive between said first and second shafts; andsuction means actuated by the rotation of said shafts whereby suction isapplied to the under side of a half-pear after it is positioned on itsholder and maintained until the peeling operation is completed.

5. A pear peeling machine having, in C0111- bination, a turret shaft; aplurality of turrets mounted thereon each of said turrets having aplurality of pear-shaped suction peel said half-pear While cups mountedon its periphery having a flat outer face perpendicular to the radius onwhich said plate is positioned; a drive shaft to which power can besupplied; an intermediate shaft between said drive and turret shafts; anintermittent drive between said intel-mediate shaft and said turretshaft; knives on said intermediate shaft registering With one of saidturret positions of said suction plates in a manner that the rotation ofsaid intermediate shaft will cause said knife to sweep across said plateWhile stationarv; and

suction-applying means whereby a half pear sail suction cups; a

extracted from a cup :an be held against said plate While its skin isbeing removed by a knife.

6. A pear peeling machine bination, a turret having a plurality ofsuetion cups mounted thereon and consisting of a body member having aplurality of lateral recess 5 formed therein communicating With shaftfor said turret; a bearing for said shaft having one face seated againstsaid turret, said bearing having a suction recess formed therein adaptedto hold said turret and bearing to a seat; and a separate hole insaidturret whereby air can be mounted on said turret. j j

7. A pear peeling machine having, in combination, a base; a pair ofspaced. bearings mounted on said base; a. turret shaft mounted in saidbearings; a turret mounted on said shaft; plurality of suction cupsmounted on the periphery of said turret, each of said cups having a flatpearshaped outer face; a pair of standard. mounted on said base betweensaid bearings; a drive shaft and an intermediate shaft driven therebymoun ed on said standards;an intermittent drive between said'intermediate shaft and said turret shaft; a pear positioning meansWhereby half pears can be placed with their flat sides against saidsuction plates; and means for applying suction to each plate after apear is positioned thereon and maintaining said suction until said pearis moved to its next position and its skin is removed there from.

8. In a fruit paring device, a holder having a flat face similar to thecut flat face of the fruit portion to be pared but slightly smaller,means for holding a cut fruit portion on the holder, means forcorrecting an inaccurate positioning of the fruit portion on the holder,and means for removing the skin of the fruit portion While so held.

9. In a pear paring device, a holder, a curved knife movable to pare theskin from a half pear supported by the holder, means for per, Honing thehalf pear on the holder, and means for holdin the half pear with respect t the holder during the stroke of. the

knife and for ejecting the peeled half pear.

from the holder.

10. In a device of the character described, a rotatable member forreceiving a plurality of axially split pear sections each with its cutface toward the axis ering means and means for holding the pear sectionsduring the cutting operation andfor later discharging the paredsections.

11. In apear peeler, a rotatable member, a plurality of suction cupsthereon each to receive an axially split pear half, peeling meansin thepath of the pear halves on the men her, and suction and pressure meansfor successively exhausting the air from the suctlon cups during peelingand forcing air into the having, in comof revolution, skin sevsuctioncups after the peeling operation is completed.

12. The device of c aim 11 in which each pear halt is automaticallypositioned with respect to the peeling means just prior to theexhausting of" the air from the cup holding it.

13. The device of claim 11 in which the rotatable member is aninteri'i'iittently rotated turret and the peeling means includes asingle piece knife which rotates about an axis COAtlfilly positionedwith respect to a suction cup during its period of dwell.

.14. The device of claim 10 in which the lOtHt lblC member has aplurality of equispaced pear halt receiving portions each being flat andhaving the outline 01'' an axially split pear.

15. In apear peeler, means for holding a plurality of axially split pearhalves with the skin of the pear sections entirely free, means 101'peeling the pear halves While so held, and

means tor discharging the peeled halt pears.

16. The device of claim 15 in which the pear hall holding means and thedischarging means are both pneumatic.

17. In a pear peeler, a turret pneumatic means "for temporarily securingaxially split pear sections on the turret, means for removing;' the skinfrom the pear sections While so heldqandmea sfor conveying the eeledpear halves from the turret.

18. The device of claim 1'? in which inaccuracies in the relativeposition of pear sections and turret are corrected automatically justprior to the peeling operation.

lVILLLtM A. FONKEN.

